u/bigdreamstinydogs

I am a CASA for a teenage girl. This is my first assignment and my first time interacting with foster parents.

I have noticed that she wears the same clothes a lot, including certain items that are pretty heavily worn/damaged, so I asked her if she feels like she has enough clothes and if she's able to get new clothes if she needs them (I didn't want to straight up ask her why she's always wearing the same clothes because I know for some kids it can be a matter of comfort). She told me that if she "really needs" something her foster mom will provide it, but didn't expand on what that means. However, a few weeks ago she was hospitalized due to mental health concerns and her foster parents did not provide her with any pajamas or socks, or a hairbrush for her stay, so she had been sleeping in her clothes, re-wearing one pair of socks, and her hair was a mess. Her foster mom told me later that she wasn't able to drop off items because she had vertigo that made it difficult to drive.

I also asked her if she's able to get enough toiletry items (a few weeks ago she told me she didn't have any deodorant and I ended up giving her an unopened travel size stick I had in my car, which is why I asked) and she said she is provided with the "bare minimum" (shampoo, soap, toothbrush/paste and conditioner, typically deodorant). She said this very matter-of-factly and neutrally, she wasn't complaining about it at all. She has very long, very curly hair and she has to buy her own curly-hair products when she is able to save up money for those things (she's too young to get a job). I was honestly a bit shocked to hear that because to me, appropriate hair products like gel or moisturizers would definitely fall into the "bare minimum" category... Not to mention that her foster mom is a woman with curly hair herself, so she isn't ignorant of the importance of appropriate hair care.

I want to make it clear that I think her placement is supportive and overall a good place for her, and her foster parents are extremely selfless for opening their home to a foster youth, especially with several bio kids of their own. They are quite busy as well, and work tough jobs. This is not a dig at them whatsoever, nor an accusation of neglect or anything like that. I am just curious what other foster parents think of this, and if this is normal. I know they are providing safety and the other basics: food, shelter, and so on. However, from my perspective, I would not feel comfortable with a child in my care going without the correct toiletry items or wearing clothes that are as torn as some of her clothes are. However, I realize it is easy to say that having never fostered a child, which is why I am curious to hear from some of you. I look forward to hearing from a different perspective. Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a book for a YA reader that is as light and fluffy as possible. This person is going through a difficult time and has expressed that reading/watching media with heavy topics is too much for them right now. It doesn't need to be childish, just something upbeat and fun. The YA equivalent of a summer beach read. Any ideas? Thanks!

I am a CASA for a teenage girl with a history of self harm and suicide attempts. She was admitted to inpatient on a psych hold on Friday for suicidal ideation. As soon as I found out I called the hospital and asked to be put on the list of approved contacts so she can call me if she wants to. Honestly when I found out I wanted to jump in my car and head to the hospital right away but obviously I don’t want to visit without her permission!

Has anyone been in this situation? Any thoughts or advice would be welcome. I have never had serious suicidal thoughts myself so I am not sure how best to approach this situation. I want to make myself as available as possible without being overbearing.

Side note: she’s been in DHS care since November. I’ve been her CASA since March. DHS is aware of her mental health history but her freaking caseworker has NEVER gotten her therapy despite me asking her repeatedly to do so. And now it’s come to this. Ugh.

Hi everyone,

To start off, I wanted to make this post to share my experience with body recomp from running because from the online searches I did, I primarily found information suggesting that running doesn't really result in body recomposition, but that hasn't been the case for me. I'm hoping that this post, although only anecdotal, can be informative or relatable to other people who find themselves experiencing the same thing I did!

I started running in July 2025, but my running has really ramped up since December 2025 or so. Prior to running, I was pretty sedentary--I did some exercise, but I never really found anything I enjoyed or stuck with. Running has changed all that, and I now run consistently at least every other day. I do no other forms of exercise. When I started running I weighed about 147 lbs (I am 5'7"). My weight has stayed consistent, but my thighs and glutes have become noticeably more muscular and I have lost 2 inches in my waist. I have lost fat on my stomach and arms as well. Again, my body weight has stayed consistent throughout all of this, so it is definitely body recomp and not just weight loss. I have also not changed my diet at all. The only difference has been running. IMO, the biggest factor in this was that I went from sedentary to active... if you're already an athlete you probably wouldn't see the same results. But as far as whether running can lead to body recomp, the answer is 100% yes, it is possible.

tl;dr-- if you were sedentary prior to running you very well may experience body recomp through running alone.